Heaven Everywhere
“The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world.” -- Psalm 19:1-4
One morning I caught a headline predicting the Governor of Minnesota is likely to shut down all youth sports for the rest of fall and start of winter.
I’ll admit to stewing about it for some time. The news ruined my morning. I was angry, frustrated, and sad. My heart broke for those coaches and athletes that pour so much into their sport and get so much good from it.
Then over my earbud came a song I’ve heard dozens of times-- Heaven Everywhere by Francesca Battistelli. This time, it caught me differently because of the negative attitude I had:
“…maybe we're just slightly more aware
There's a little bit of heaven everywhere
It's the smile on a man who has finally found hope
It's the tears of a mother whose child has come home
It's the joy that we feel and the love that we share
There's a little bit of heaven everywhere”
Amidst all of the filth in the world around us, the conflict, the evil, and the hurt, there are glimpses of Heaven. I’ve noticed that what I look for, I find. If I’m looking for reasons to be disappointed, hurt, or frustrated, I’ll find them. And when I’m looking for glimpses of hope, goodness. and kindness, I’ll find them, too. If that’s true, why would I not always be on the lookout for the things God would have me see that generate hope, positivity, and good energy?
That’s my challenge to you today: look around and see what God would have you see to put a smile on your face, but more importantly, to put a smile in your heart. More importantly, be that person that puts a smile in the heart of someone else today.
- Stop what you are doing and look around. What are three things you can see that you can be thankful for?
- Acknowledge the source of your fear, frustration, or disappointment. Now think about one thing that you can celebrate.
- As a door closes on us, God opens other doors or windows. Opportunity is born out of challenge. What doors could God be opening for you?
James 1:17; Job 12:7-10; Romans 1:20
“Lord, we praise You for being the Almighty, Everlasting, Great God who wants us to experience Your goodness, grace, and mercy as we dive headlong into relationship with You. Help us to see the good that is in the world around us, in the people, and in the things that we see and hear today. Father, even more importantly, help me be a person who brings a smile to the heart of someone who I interact with today.”
